How to design a compressed air piping system

Follow these three steps to get started on the design of your air piping system. Don’t forget to make use of our smart tools during the design process to help you to find the perfect pipe diameter, calculate the pressure drop or visualize your future installation.

1. Make an equipment list with a drawing

Draw your air compressor system layout.
The starting point for designing and dimensioning your compressed air network is your complete equipment list detailing all compressed air consumers and a drawing or sketch of your floor  indicating all your consumer locations.

Additionally, identify your major consumers in the network. Depending on the consumers, make the selection for your drop lines and branch lines. 

2. Determine your pipe diameter

Depending on the consumers, make the selection for your drop lines and branch lines. 

When determining your pipe diameter, take into account your flow rate, pressure, allowed pressure drop and the total length of the network. 

Make sure you use planning and calculation tools:

  • Discover our selector tools for aluminium and stainless steel piping
  • For piping system diagrams, lay-outs and calculations, discover our Planner

3. Complete your drawing with all parts needed

You need four main parts, if you work with a larger compressed air network:

  • Risers 
    transport your compressed air from the equipment to the main headers
  • Distribution pipes (main headers) 
    split your air across the distribution area 
  • Service pipes (branches & drop lines) 
    route the air from the distribution pipes to the workplaces
  • Point-of-use 
    necessary to connect the parts of the distribution system to the end consumer